Dressmaker s device



United States Patent 3,343,901 DRESSMAKERS DEVICE Susan A. Marcus,Brackenville Road, Hockessin, Del. 19707 Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No.499,704 10 Claims. (Cl. 312-235) This invention relates to a dressmakersdevice. More particularly, it relates to a device that is used inmeasuring and marking hems for dresses.

There have been quite a number of devices described for use bydressmakers to make the task of marking hem lines of dresses easier.These devices include movable scissors, rotating platforms and chalkmarking devices, among others. However, the devices of the prior artusually place either the dressmaker or the person being fitted intouncomfortable positions, and there has been a longfelt need for a devicethat is convenient to the dressmaker doing the fitting and that alsoallows the person being fitted to stand securely while the fitting isbeing done.

Accordingly, an objective of this invention is the provision of adressmakers platform which allows the person being fitted to stand stillwhile the hem line is being determined. A further aim is the provisionof a device which allows the dressmaker to circle the person beingfitted in a convenient and comfortable manner. A still further objectiveis theprovision of a device which contains storage means for dressmakerstools. A still further purpose is the provision of a device of simple,effective design containing a retractable seat for the fitter. These andother goals will appear hereinafter.

The objectives of this invention are accomplished by the provision of aplatform that contains tiers and contains one tier which is revolvable,the others remaining stationary. The device of this invention affords aslightly elevated platform which is stationary and on which the personbeing fitted stands. To reach this elevated platform there is a step upto the platform which step is stationary. Located between'the said stepand the stationary top platform, which is the top tier, is a revolvingmemher which contains a retractable seat for the fitter. This is inelfecta third tier or level and is between the step and the topplatform.

In using the device the person being fitted merely steps up to the toptier and stands there. The fitter pulls out the retractable seat andhaving been seated on it, the fitter merely pushes herself around theperson being fitted with a foot or her feet and in going around thefitter, of course, pins or sets the hem line where desired. Thisinvention will be further understood by reference to the description andthe figures below all of which is given for illustrative purposes onlyand is not limitative.

In the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation showing a person being fitted and thedressmaker, both in the operative position on the device of thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective of certain parts of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the device of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are small sectional view showing different types ofbearings that may be used.

As can be seen in FIGURE 1 the person 10 being fitted is on the top tier11, a stationary platform, of the device 12 of this invention. Seated onthe support 13 is the fitter 14. The arrow 15 shows the direction inwhich the fitter is moving as she pushes herself around the person 10'.As

she does so, the central element 16 rotates. The bottom section 17,which contains drawer 18, is stationary resting on floor 18 andpresenting step 19 to afford a convenient way for the person 10 to getto platform 11. The bottom section 17 containing step 19 need not be acomplete circle as shown in the drawings and may be only a part of thecircle or even a square-shaped step that is integral with the device ofthis invention or is a separate step. However, it is preferred that thebottom member 17 be a complete circle around the device, because itaffords a step down for person 10 in whatever direction she wishes tostep from the platform 11.

In FIGURE 2 various parts are shown with certain connecting members.Thus, platform 11 is shown about to receive a locking means 20 whichcontains a disk 21 and a shaft 22. As can be seen in FIGURE 5 the disk21 is locked into platform 11 by screws 23. Shaft 22 is secured to step9 by means of a bolt and lock nut washer 24 whichbears on the underneathside of stationary step 9. The shaft 22 passes through a hole 25 in thetop 26 and a similar hole in bottom 26a of central member 16. Shaft 22also passes through cylinder 27, the bottom end of which rests on theinner portion 28 of step 9. As shown in FIGURE 5 the top of cylinder 27is in contact with the underneath surface of disk 21. Located on thebottom side of inner member 16 or resting on step 9 is a bearing 29, andlocated on the top side of inner member 16 is a similar bearing 30. Asexplained below each of these bearings have co-acting counterparts.

The bottom plan view shown in FIGURE 3 shows the lock nut arrangement 24which locks platform 11 and step 9 together. Also shown is the drawer 18with its pull-out knob 31 and the retractable seat 13 with its pull-outknob 32.

FIGURE 4 shows in top plan these various elements with the dotted linesindicating the position of the various elements described above. Theretractable seat 13 is shown capable of being slid into central member16, there being guides 33 on either side to assure that the seat goes insmoothly and easily. These guides are fixed to the inner member 16 andwhen the fitter 14 pushes against the floor, the sides of seat 13 willbear against these walls 33 and make inner member 16 revolve. Also shownin FIGURE 4 are the walls or ribs 34 which act as guides for the drawer18.

These various elements are shown in assembled form in FIGURE 5. Asexplained, theleentral member 16 has a hole 25 in its top part 26 andhas a similar hole, not shown, in its bottom part 26a. Thus, thecylinder 27 will be resting with its bottom part in direct contact withthe step 9 and with its top in direct contact with the underheath sideof disk 21. It will also further be understood that the inside diametersof the holes in central section 16 correspond closely to the diameter ofcylinder 27. Thus, central section 16 is fixed in place since it can notbe moved horizontally in any direction for its top and its bottom willbear up against cylinder 27 which is fixed, as explained. Nor canrevolvable central element 16 be raised or lowered, for top 11 and step9 prevent such movements, respectively. Thus, the device of thisinvention is very sturdy. Yet, it is portable and can be easily movedfrom one place to another. If desired, the device can be equipped withspring-loaded casters, but the mobil- '-ity of the device without themis very good. Further, it

rests very firmly on the floor and a person can step very easily andquickly from the floor to step 9 and from there to the top platform 11and reverse these movements quickly in safety. The person being fittedcan merely stand on platform 11 as though she were standing on thefloor.

In FIGURE 5 there are also shown at 35 one of the ways in which therevolving of central element 16 can be p 1967 R. A. MAGNUSON 3,343,902

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United States Patent 3,343,902 WARDRGBE Raymond A. Magnuson, Hinsdale,IlL, assignor to Vogel- Peterson (10., Elmhurst, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,454 Claims. (Cl. 312238) Thepresent invention relates in general to closet wardrobe constructionsfor storing garments, hats, office supplies or the like and, moreparticularly, to an improved wardrobe construction which permitseffective use of the dead space located in the corner of a room behind adoor when the latter is open.

Architects, interior decorators, tenants and others concerned with themost effective and economical use of wardrobe floor space in ofiicerooms, partitioned offices and the like, particularly for commercial andindustrial spaces, have, for a long time, faced the problem of providingeffective wardrobe space which not only makes the most efficient use ofavailable space for the storage of hats, garments, boots, oificesupplies or the like, but which is also concealed, economical andaesthetically pleasing in appearance.

Accordingly, it is a general aim of the present invention to provide aWardrobe construction which permits effective use of the dead spaceoften found in the corner of a room behind the room door, yet which ischaracterized by its simplicity, versatility, and ease of installationand maintenance.

In another of its important aspects, it is an object of the invention toprovide a wardrobe construction which permits of simplicity and economyin room design and which virtually eliminiates the need for relativelyexpensive built-in closets or similar built-in storage facilities.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a wardrobeconstruction which employs only a relatively few economical componentparts and which makes effective use of the room walls and door to definea semiconcealed closet-like enclosure. As a consequence of attainingthis objective, the room door serves a dual functionviz., selectivelyopening and closing the opening into the room, as well as serving as aclosure for the wardrobe.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a wardrobeconstruction which permits of continuous air circulation between theroom and the interior of the wardrobe, thus insuring adequateventilation of the wardrobe interior and any garments stored therein.

An ancillary object of the invention is the provision of asemi-concealed wardrobe which, because it makes use of the room door andwalls, requires only one additional wall member to define the wardrobeenclosure, and wherein such additional wall member is spaced above thefloor so as to not only permit of free air circulation, but also so asto permit ease of floor maintenance. Yet another object of the inventionis the provision of a room door concealed wardrobe which is readilyadjustable in width,

thereby permitting use of the invention with virtually any door widthsfound on the building site.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary construction embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the wardrobe shown in FIG. 1, heredepicting the room door in a position closing the door opening in thewall and exposing the interior of the wardrobe;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2and showing particularly the mount- Patented Sept. 26, 1967 ing bracketsused for supporting the wardrobe shelves and sidewall of the wardrobeenclosure;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG.2 and showing the connection of a cover panel or sidewall to a pluralityof shelf rods;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating in detail thekeeper mechanism used for latching the room door to the cover panel whenit is desired to conceal the interior of the wardrobe;

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the invention inWhich a magnet in the cover panel retains the door to conceal theWardrobe contents;

FIG. 6 is a top view similar to FIG. 4, but depicting a modifiedembodiment of the invention wherein garment hangers are disposedperpendicular to the shelf rods; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view partly in side elevation and partly insection, of a support bracket here taken substan tially along the line77 of FIG. 6.

While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit theinvention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated inFIGURE 1 a wardrobe construction generally indicated at 10, hereembodying the features of the present invention. In keeping with theinvention, the wardrobe 10 is disposed in the corner 11 of a roomdefined by walls 12 and 14. One of such walls, here the wall 14, isprovided with a framed door opening 15 which is offset from the otherwall 12 by a distance X (where, for example, X may vary from say abouttwelve inches to perhaps twenty-one inches or even more) within which adoor 16 is pivotally hung in a conventional manner.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the presentinvention, there is provided a simple, aesthetically pleasing wardrobeconstruction 10' for making effective use of the dead space behind thedoor 16 for the purpose of storing garments, supplies or the like. Tothis end, and as best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 1-4 conjointly,the exemplary wardrobe 10 includes a plurality of shelves which arerigidly secured to the wall 12 immediately behind the door 16, therebeing three such shelves 18, 19 and 29 shown in the form of theinvention illustrated in FIG. 1. Preferably each such shelf is slightlyless in depth than the offset distance X and substantially equal inwidth to the width W of the door 16.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with the form thereofdepicted in FIGS. 1-4, each of the shelves are identical in constructionand, consequently, a description of the shelf 18 by way of example willsuffice for an understanding of the details of the shelves 19 and 20. Asbest observed by reference to FIGS. 1-3, it will be noted that the shelf18 includes a plurality of shelf rods 21 which may be formed of eithersolid or tubular stock, and which may be formed of any appropriatematerial such as metal or wood. The rods 21 are rigidly secured inspaced horizontal relation by means of a pair of spaced shelf brackets22. Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that each bracket 22 includes amain plate 24 having a flat rear surface 25 adapted for flush engagementwith the surface of the Wall 12. For the purpose of securing thebrackets 22 to the wall 12, screws 26 or other suitable fasteners arepassed through mounting apertures 28 (FIG. 7) in the main plate 24 andthreaded directly into the wall 12 or its supporting studs (not shown).Extending generally normal to the main plate 24 is a tapered

5. A WARDROBE FOR INSTALLATION BEHIND A DOOR AND IN A CORNER OF A ROOMDEFINED BY FIRST AND SECOND ROOM WALLS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SHELFBRACKETS FOR MOUNTING ON ONE THE WALLS AT VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLYSPACED LOCATIONS THEREON, SHELF RODS EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TOTHAT WALL AND SECURED TO SAID BRACKETS TO AFFORD SHELF SURFACES ANDSPACED HANGER SUPPORT FOR GARMENTS, A COVER PANEL, SECURED INSUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL RELATION TO THE ENDS OF THE SHELF RODS REMOTE FROMTHE OTHER ROOM WALL, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SHELF RODS TO SAID SHELFBRACKETS TO SPACE SAID COVER PANEL FROM SAID BRACKETS AND AT A POSITIONADJACENT THE FREE EDGE OF THE DOOR WHEN THE LATTER IS FULLY OPEN, ANDRETAINING MEANS ON SAID COVER PANEL AND THE DOOR TO HOLD THE LATTER INITS FULLY OPEN POSITION ADJACENT THE COVER PANEL TO CONCEAL SAID SHELFRODS AND BRACKECTS.